Squire: Book 3 of the Protector of the Small Quartet

I realize this is supposed to be a review about just this book, but I tried to write it that way and realized that the same reasons that I didn't like Squire, actually had to do with entire series.My huge problem with this book is the main character, Keladry of Mindelan. I don't like how she handles the bullies, insults, Lord Wyldon and the other men, the king, and most of all how she faces the challenges that were thrown at her. I feel that she's basically a huge copy of Alanna, and so I wish that the author had taken a different approach to Keladry's character, and how she dealt with the boys and the men. I've read the entire Song of the Lioness and the Protector of the Small series front to back, and after reading them multiple times, I finally realized that there are many ideas in both series that I don't like at all.In Song of the Lioness, Alanna is impersonating a boy, taking everything that comes and not complaining, getting into fights with Ralon, and fitting in with the boys as best as she possibly can. I really feel like Kel is just basically just a huge copy of that. Also, both Alanna and Keladry had special privileges that none of the boys had. Alanna had her magical sword Lightning, training from a master street fighter George, sword practice with Coram, and a really strong friendship/romance with the Prince of Tortall. In Kel's case, she had years of foreign training, weighted practice weapons, special gifts from Alanna, and a strong friendship/ambassador relationship with a Yamani princess. I realize that the things that have to do with training obviously made it even harder for Alanna and Kel to get through everything, but the fact of the matter is neither of them were completing the training with the same means and resources that all of the boys had. If you're competing against the boys and want a fair chance, then you should do so with the same means that they had, not with royal friendships or expensive gifts, and especially not with outside help.Keladry says multiple times that she likes being female, so I wish she and the author had taken the opportunity of Kel's being the first publicly known female page to really prove to the world that girls can be knights in a more feminine way, just like how the Yamani warrior women are. I remember that she wore dresses to dinner in First Test, but by the time she's a squire, she didn't really make much of a statement other than that. Off the top of my head, some ideas would be keeping her hair long (Joren was one of the best fighters in the school, and he had hair past his shoulders), wearing ribbons, or even having Lalasa sew her some shirts with more feminine colors. Just some little things to make an overall statement that you can still be a warrior, but stay true to your feminine side too. I loved the scenes with Kel and Lalasa in Page, about how puberty is normal and menstruation is nothing to be ashamed of. So I wish Kel had used those opportunities to take it a step further, rather than just saying she likes being female and also to make an entirely different statement than the Alanna series did.Also, expressing emotion is usually seen as being feminine, so I wish Kel had let herself do that, instead of having a 'Yamani Lump' face just to fit in with the boys. Don't get me wrong: I understand that if she had acted that way instead, she probably would never have had many friends, would have been even more of an outcast, wouldn't have been defended by all the boys, and would have had 1000 times the amount of problems she had already. Except, I only think that's all true if you look at it from the perspective that she needed to have the men's respect, or to care about other people's opinions at all.She would have had Neal for a friend, and maybe few others over time. In my opinion, I think that TRUE friends are the ones that like you right from the beginning, not people who only like you after you prove yourself to them. Also, without the Yamani training, I don't think Kel would have stood a chance against Joren or the bullies, so if she had issues with them, then I think that she would have had to tell her parents and made the entire thing into a huge legal case. Obviously, that approach would have ruined the entire series, but I think it makes more of a statement to the idea that when you want to change something, you really have to CHANGE it, not just settle it by fighting, or by hoping that the law will do it for you. Exactly like how when Joren only got a fine for kidnapping a person, or when Vinson attacked other women even after Kel threatened him. Finishing something by still only dealing with the individual people, and not trying to change the entire dynamics doesn't really get you anywhere. Why should you want the approval of a training master, all of the teachers, Lord Raoul and the King's Own, and even the King and Queen, if every single one of them are people who don't care how many times you get injured, or will only watch when you struggle?I think having those kinds of dynamics would have been the perfect plot for Kel's character to be more fleshed out and individualized, and NOT needing the approval of everyone, or just taking the abuse and beatings, and only staying silent, or even thinking that it's laughable to get up every single day with bruises. I also think it would have been a good point to make to younger readers too, about how you can still be a tomboy but have a feminine side and even still be respected and liked by good quality men. No special weapons, or having to be the best at everything, just having the right to train for what you want no matter what other people say. That's what I wish this series had been about most of all.The only reason that Kel doesn't act on how she truly feels is due to her reputation and other people's opinions. However, since Kel gets insulted and attacked by people anyway, then why shouldn't she stick to what she wants to do if it never made a difference in how people treat her or what they thought of her? Or if the difference it made was only to the extent of of how she fit into the system of everything, and never making any real changes to everything? Even Alanna said in Lioness Rampant, that she could have gone to the convent school and made changes there, if she really wanted to motivate girls, so why shouldn't this series make that point instead of the classic being 'one of the boys'?I agree with Sir Myles and Neal from First Test: Respecting and honoring a system that allows you to get abused and wants you to stay silent about it is absolutely ridiculous. Being stoic, never complaining, and doing your best to fit in doesn't solve anything, it only adds to all of the insanity. There might be ways to discourage someone for going for their knighthood, but the fact of the matter is that legally they couldn't have denied her her knighthood as long as she passed all of the tests, and any type of discouragement CAN'T be worse than getting beat up and bruised almost non-stop.I also wish that Squire (and the entire Protector of the Small series) had taken a different approach to Keladry's knighthood training. I wish Kel had just started off as Alanna's first squire. I understand she would have been accused of cheating with magic, but as Neal said, she could have still taken the public exams and gone through jousting tournaments and then been tested for magic by a conservative mages, or even some of the examiners. I don't know how much of that would have played out, or how messy everything would have been, but I think it would have been possible.I enjoyed reading this book, and the entire series, which is why I gave it three stars...but, I will never agree with a system that lets you be abused, wants you to stay silent about it and defend the people who abused you, and most of all, forces you to kill yourself on the inside just to get everyone to stop tormenting you and to 'fit in'.

Although my husband’s name appears on this review, I am the reader. I love novels with strong women. Kel is a true heroine in every sense. She embodies the soul of every woman. The hidden strength women display every day in their work and most especially in protecting and raising their children. A great read!

Erased penciled owner's name (flyleaf); covered up black-inked travel route, facing back cover.

Squire, by Tamora Pierce, is the third book in the Protector of the Small Quartet. It is set in the kingdom of Tortall and its neighbors, like many others of Tamora Pierce’s books. Tortall is an archaic land of knights, magic, and nobles, and this quartet follows the journey of Keladry of Mindelan, the first girl to take advantage of the newly reinstated law that women can try for knighthood. This book tells the tale of her struggling to prove herself while being squired to Lord Raoul, one of the most respected knights of Tortall, and working with The King’s Own, the force her new knight-master commands. Squire on Keladry’s character and knowledge as she prepares for her final test before she is knighted: The Ordeal of Knighthood, in which she is tested by a sentient magical force that will try its very best to break here solve while simultaneously testing of his worthy for task that it needs done, for the good of the realm. This book is my personal favorite of the Protector of the Small Quartet, and one of my favorites of all of Tamora Pierce’s works. One of the greatest strengths in her stories, and this one in particular is her characters. They are lovable, dynamic, real and come from all walks of life, ranging from a tired but dedicated and honorable training master to a snarky young noble who started his knighthood training five years later than usual to a maid-turned-dressmaker that teaches the city girls ways to defend themselves. Pierce expertly weaves this unforgettable cast of characters into a complex story filled with relationships that feel wonderfully genuine, dialogue that flows as though characters are speaking directly at you, and truly human moments of fear, doubt, love joy and countless other emotions. These characters are just part of the story – they help to fill out the many-layered and dimensioned world of Tortall and its surroundings. This book does the same as the rest of Tamora Pierce’s works, keeping the world feeling very real with use of a more ancient dialect (such as mage) and phrases that fit the status of the characters -“I make allowance for your grief” (281) from a noble and “Anyways, her folks is charcoal burners, caught in the woods by them bandits. They took a bunch of lone folk, them that on’y come into the walls for winter. Cowardly pukes” (92) from a shepherd’s boy. Pierce also defines this world expertly using politics, settings and situations that all seem very appropriate for an ancient monarchy. Squire contains themes of growth as Keladry develops and learns about the realm, how it is run, and how she can help it with her emerging talents. It also presents a theme of resilience, and belief in yourself, as Kel continues to be tested by conservatives who are determined to see her fail and she hold her head high and forges on. Finally, the book culminates with a profound lesson that Kel has learned through her journey thus far: what the realm truly is and what her duty to it means. All in all, Squire a delightful story fueled by characters that will make you laugh, cry and grin like mad. It enfolds you in a land of magic and kings that feels genuine and real. And, in the end, it gathers up all its characters and side-plots, and the four years that it covers and leaves with a message of growth, self-confidence and duty.

The author manages to write good stories without the need for excessive gore or sex. I've enjoyed the series.

Excellent series by an excellent author. Best read in orde.

good

Advertised cover art didn't match received product

der Buchleim riecht selbst nach Jahren noch pentrant.Tamora Pierce gehörte schon langem zu meinen Lieblingsautoren. Ob auf Deutsch oder in Englisch, ihre Geschichten zeigen deutlich, was man schaffen kann, wenn man nur entschlossen genug ist.Kurz zum Inhalt:Kel hat es geschafft, sie ist offiziell zum Knappen ernannt worden und ihre Ritterprüfung rückt näher. Allerdings hat sie am Anfang ein weiteres Problem: Welcher Ritter würde sie zu ihrem Knappen ernennen? Kel möchte keinem "Schreibtischritter" dienen, da sie sich lieber im Kampf beweisen möchte. Und am liebsten hätte sie natürlich "Sir/Lady" Alanna als Lehrmeister. Der Wunsch erfüllt sich nicht, da Alanna, die selten einen Knappen nimmt, sich für Neal entscheidet.Kel hingegen bekommt einen ungewöhnlichen Rittermeister, Sir Raoul of Kingslake..., den Chef der königlichen Leibwache. Er ist einer der wenigen, die sie als Knappe akzeptieren und zu ihr steht, egal wer damit ein Problem haben könnte. Obwohl es unüblich ist bringt er ihr bereits am Anfang das Tjostieren bei und setzt sie als normales Mitglied seiner Reitergruppe ein.Kel erhält die Chance sich zu beweisen und erfährt wie ungerecht Recht und Gesetz sein können. Der Standartenträger, Leront of Eldorne, musste dies am eigenen Leib erfahren. Nur weil seine Tante, Delia of Eldorne, am Mordkomplott gegen King Jonathan of Conté beteiligt war, wird die gesamte Familie seitdem gemieden und Karriere in der Armee kann man praktisch vergessen. Es spielt auch keine Rolle, ob man damals noch nicht geboren oder nichts davon wusste, das Gesetz ist unerbittlich.Kel wird unerwartet zum Pflegemutter eines Greifenbabies, als sie gegen rebellierende Zentauren kämpfen, die einen jungen Greif aus dem Nest gestohlen haben und diese Aufgabe ist alles andere als leicht.Mehr verrate ich euch nicht, den Rest müsst ihr selber lesen.Den ersten Stern gibt es für die Aufgabenfelder, die von der königlichen Leibwache wahrgenommen werden. Dies verschafft Kel die Chance sich im Feld zu bewähren und Dinge zu lernen, die den meisten Knappen nicht bewusst sind.Den zweiten Stern gibt es für die "Grand Progression", diese soll von den "King's Own" geschützt werden und zugleich Roald und seiner Verlobten Prinzessin Shinkokami das Reich und dessen Volk näher bringen. Kel spielt dabei eine besondere Rolle, da sie Sprache und Bräuche der Yamani sehr gut kennt, seit sie mit ihrer Familie dort *6 Jahre lang* als Botschafter Tortalls lebten.Den dritten Stern gibt es für die Widrigkeiten, mit denen Kel als Knappe konfrontiert wird. Die Ultrakonservativen des Reiches haben ihr nicht vergeben, dass sie als Mädchen die Ritterausbildung absolviert, obwohl dies seit 10 Jahren erlaubt ist, bei jeder Station der Reise wird ihr dies nachdrücklich ins Gedächtnis gerufen. Und die Aufzucht eines Babygreifen macht ihre Knappenausbidlung nicht einfacher, denn die erste Pflicht eines Knappen bleibt es seinem Herrn zu dienen, aber Kel macht das Beste daraus und lässt sich von nichts und niemand unterkriegen. Nicht einmal von den fiesen Visionen, die ihr die "Chamber of Ordeal" schickt, wenn sie den Raum konfrontiert.Den vierten Stern gibt es die unnachgiebigen Gesetze, die in Tortall gelten: Sie zeigen umso deutlicher, weshalb es wichtiger ist, dass man für seine Rechte eintritt und dass es nicht gerechtfertigt ist, ganze Familien für etwas in Sippenhaft zu nehmen, das ein Familienmitglied zu verantworten hat. Sippenhaft sorgt eher dafür, dass die Verbitterung in der Familie sich noch vertieft und birgt einen gefährlichen Sprengstoff für die Zukunft eines Reiches.Den fünften Stern konnte ich nicht geben, der Buchleim richt nach wie vor penetrant, obwohl ich da Buch bereits seit mehreren Jahren besitzte und es direkt nach dem Kauf zum *Auflüften* hingestellt haben. Dieses Problem tritt bislang nur bei dieser Reihe auf. Bei keinem anderen Buch des Verlages war ein solcher penetranter Geruch feststellbar. Darum empfehle ich in diesem Fall die *E-Book*-Ausgabe, diese ist *geruchsfrei*.Viel Vergnügen beim Lesen ;-)Am besten bei Gelegenheit selbst lesen und sich dann ein eigenes Urteil bilden.^^Und wer denkt, dass Alanna of Trebond and Olau stur ist, der hat Kel noch *nie getroffen*.

The media could not be loaded.  I ordered this book because I'm upgrading my very used snd l9ved paperbacks to hard copy. I'm so disappointed to see this was not represented as damaged.